Analytical Instrument Documents

Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) time-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS) is a powerful tool to identify the repeat units and end groups of polymers. The mass spectra of polymers can be easily interpreted because MALDI can generate singly-charged ions over a wide mass range. MALDI is a soft ionization method that uses "matrix" compounds and “cationization agents” to assist the ionization process of polymers. Typically, sample, matrix and cationization agent are dissolved in the same solvent. These solutions are pre-mixed and placed drop-wise on the target plate to make cocrystals (dried droplet method). However, this procedure cannot be applied to polymers that are insoluble or only slightly soluble. To solve this problem, solvent-free methods have been developed [1-4] for these situations. In this report, we analyzed low molecular weight polyethylene by using a solvent-free method and then using a high mass-resolution MALDI-TOFMS “SpiralTOF™” system for the analysis.

Ethylene oxide (EO) – propylene oxide (PO) copolymers have been used as components of various functional materials. Detailed analyses of them, however, still remain challenging. As it turns out, it is difficult to detect all of the components by using mass spectrometry alone without chromatographic separation due to ion suppression effects. In this work we analyzed an EO-PO random copolymer by using an LC – MALDI-SpiralTOF MS system, with the expectation of detecting more components as a result of reduced ion suppression effects.